Safety Tips from MPD

Five Weekend Safety Tips.

 

You can:

 

1) Reduce 'Theft from Autos'- Report suspicious activity. If you observe anyone peeking in and out of vehicles; or acting suspiciously around the front and back of homes in your block, report it to 9-1-1. Tell your neighbors to conduct exit exams when they leave their vehicles. Walk around the car and peek into the windows. Make sure spare change, electronic devices, packages, shopping bags and charging devices are not in plain view. Use anti-theft devices for added safety.

 

2) Reduce ‘Bicycle Theft’ by securing your bicycles inside of your home, instead of outside; and by using anti-theft devices, even bike alarms to secure your bicycles in safe places you visit.

 

3) Reduce ‘Gas Station Robberies and Theft’ by planning to gas-up vehicles during daylight hours and by IMMEDIATELY locking your doors the moment you exit the vehicle (even while standing next to the vehicle to pump gas); keeping purses and other valuable items in the trunk of the car or a secured location in the back of the car; being as vigilant as possible (watching cars and people as they pull up near your vehicle).

 

4) Reduce ‘Street Robberies’ by staying FREE OF DISTRACTIONS. Make a habit of putting cell phones and music players away as you walk around. Avoid carrying large sums of cash, large purses and cards like Social Security Cards that would place you in jeopardy of being a victim of identity theft.

 

5) Travel in groups. Watch people around you. Some victims of crimes have reported being asked the time or for directions before a street robbery. Avoid using outdoor ATMs or machines that are not in areas that make you feel safe. In the District, some police stations house ATMs. Make plans to quickly secure items after leaving a store where expensive electronics are purchased. Certain stores will allow you to place a tracking device on your electronics immediately after purchasing.

Wallet Found

Today while walking home from Stuart Hobson, my 11yo found a wallet in Stanton Park with a plane
ticket to Tennessee and cash. The driver's license was
from Tennessee, so we are guessing that the woman is here visiting. My daughter
called the police and they came and took the wallet, but I wanted to let people
know in case they knew this woman. The wallet belonged to Heana Plank, from
Knoxville TN.

Man Pleads Guilty in Series of Assaults and Robberies

Man Pleads Guilty in Series of Assaults and Robberies

- Brandished Knife in Some of the Attacks -

        WASHINGTON - Samuel Eggleston, 19, of Bowie, Md., pled guilty today to charges stemming from a series of crimes that took place last year, including armed assaults, robberies, and an attempted burglary, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

        Eggleston pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to charges of armed robbery, robbery, assault with intent to rob, carrying a dangerous weapon, attempted second degree burglary and assault with intent to commit first degree sexual abuse.  The Honorable Ann O’Regan Keary scheduled sentencing for June 16, 2011.

        According to the government’s evidence, two of the incidents took place on April 7, 2010. In one, Eggleston entered a home on Ellen Wilson Place SE at about 6:30 p.m., was confronted by the woman who lived there, and left when told to get out.  Fifteen minutes later, he followed another woman into an apartment building in the unit block of I Street SE, and knocked on her door three times.  The first time, he asked her if he could use the bathroom and was turned away. The second time, he asked for a glass of water and the woman provided it.  The third time, he lunged at the victim with a knife.  The victim was able to safely close the door.

        In court, the defendant further acknowledged that on October 9, 2010, at approximately 1:25 a..m., he approached two women sitting on the front steps of a house in the 900 block of Constitution Avenue NE.  He asked them if they had a cigarette.  Eggleston then produced a large white-handled kitchen knife, and stated “Give me your purses or I’m going to cut you up.”  The defendant waved the knife in a threatening manner.  Each woman gave him about $40.

        Eggleston also admitted that on October 10, 2010, at about 1:15 a.m., he followed another victim into her apartment building in the 500 block of 13^th Street NE.  When the victim tried to open the door to her apartment, the defendant said “Give me your money.”  She turned around and saw Eggleston pointing a large knife at her.  He took the victim’s iPod and then attempted to force her into a stairwell.  The victim grabbed the blade of the knife, and Eggleston eventually let go, and ran out of the building.

        Finally, on October 12, 2010, at about 2 p.m., Eggleston followed another victim into her apartment building in the 500 block of 12^th Street NE.  As she was attempting to unlock her apartment door, he approached her from behind and stated “Where’s the money?”  The victim told him that she did not have money, but only credit cards.  The victim dropped her purse on the floor in front of her apartment door.  Eggleston was holding a large kitchen knife to her back.  He told the victim to go into her apartment and then followed her inside.  He ordered her to “bend over and lift her dress up.”  She fought and struggled with the defendant.  The defendant ran out of her apartment and took the victim’s wallet, house keys, and car keys. 

        Eggleston then drove away in the victim’s car.  On the following day, Prince George’s County Police stopped the defendant while he was driving the victim’s car.    

Dangerous Situations near H Street NE

Police Alert-Shooting  (Waiting for more information)

Shooting  0258 hours  1300 b/o H St NE (Sunday Morning) 
At 0300 hrs an ADW Gun occurred at 1300 H St NE south alley. Complainant states he was standing in the alley when a vehicle approached and shots were fired at him. He was struck in the groin. No additional info at this time.Robbery Gun_1538 hours (Saturday evening)_500 block 3rd St NE_Lookout for a skinny B/M on a bike armed with a gun

Gray Administration Opens MPD Evidence Warehouse

March 15, 2011

Gray Administration Opens MPD Evidence Warehouse

Today, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Cathy L. Lanier and Department of Real Estate Services (DRES) Interim Director Brian J. Hanlon officially marked the opening of the new, state-of-the-art Evidence Warehouse. The facility handles all seized MPD property evidence and integrates advanced technology and best practices to ensure safe and responsible storage. The project was completed eight weeks ahead of schedule and is approximately $700,000 under-budget.

“On behalf of the Metropolitan Police Department, I am thrilled to announce the completion of the Evidence Warehouse,” said Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier. “This facility will serve as a national industry leader in the secure storage and management of evidence and property. It also allows for more efficient retrieval of items for laboratory testing and court proceedings.

MPD partnered with the Department of Real Estate Services (DRES), who managed the design and construction process for the Evidence Warehouse. The 30,000 square feet building is comprised of 10,000 square feet of administrative area for MPD and 20,000 square feet of storage space.

“I’m pleased to stand with Chief Lanier and announce the completion this mission-critical facility,” said DRES Interim Director Brian J. Hanlon. “DRES is especially proud of this collaborative effort because it was completed ahead of schedule and is significantly under-budget.”

The new Evidence Warehouse facility is located near the former DC Village emergency shelter at DC Village Lane, SW. As an incentive to the general contractor, the project included a shared savings and early completion clause. As a result, the general contractor will receive a bonus of approximately $200,000 and the District will keep the remaining $500,000 in savings.

Second Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back

DEA Announces Second Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back April 30

This spring, the Drug Enforcement Administration and its national and community partners will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Last September, Americans turned in over 242,000 pounds—121 tons—of prescription drugs at nearly 4,100 sites operated by more than 3,000 of the DEA’s state and local law enforcement partners. The agency hopes to collect even more this spring by opening the event to long term care facilities.

This year’s event will take place Saturday, April 30th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time when DEA and its partners will hold the second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day at sites nationwide. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

The public can find collection sites closest to them by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and then following the links to a database, and entering their zip code.  Law enforcement agencies interested in operating one or more collection sites can register with the DEA by calling the DEA Field Division office in their area.  

1D PickPocket Pleads Guilty

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For Information Contact:

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 Public Affairs

(202) 252-6933

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/dc/Press_Releases/index.html

Pickpocket Pleads Guilty to Robbery, Theft

- Distracted Victims At Bus and Metro Stops, Then Stole Their Wallets -

WASHINGTON - Alexander Barnwell, 55, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to

charges of robbery and first degree theft in a pair of incidents that targeted bus and Metro

passengers, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Barnwell pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the

Honorable Michael Ryan. He is to be sentenced on May 23, 2011. The robbery charge carries up

to 15 years in prison and the theft charge has a maximum penalty of 10 years of incarceration.

Barnwell was arrested after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department

(MPD) and Metro Transit Police into a series of pickpocketing incidents that took place in recent

years in and around Metro stations and bus stops, including crimes at or near the Farragut North

Metro station, Union Station, and the bus loading area in the 1000 block of New York Avenue

NW.

As part of his plea agreement, Barnwell admitted to two incidents. In the most recent

case, he admitted that on January 14, 2011, at approximately 12 p.m., he and an accomplice

pretended to accidentally bump into a young woman who was attempting to board a charter bus in

the 1000 block of New York Avenue NW, throwing her off balance. While the woman was

distracted, one of the men reached into her bag and stole her wallet. Within an hour, the victim’s

credit card was used to purchase men’s apparel and other items at a department store in Arlington,

Va.

Barnwell also admitted that on August 18, 2009, at approximately 5 p.m., he and an

accomplice pretended to accidentally bump into a 90-year-old man who was entering the Farragut

North Metro station. The victim, who uses a cane, realized after the encounter that his wallet had

been stolen from his back pocket. Within 30 minutes of the incident, Barnwell used the victim’s

credit card to purchase $1,000 worth of gift cards from a department store.

In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended MPD First District Detectives

Page -2-

Thomas Smith, Dennis Myles, Gary Johnson, Andre Williams, and Raymond Stargel, and MPD

Officers Louis Schnider, Katrina Harrison, and Brett Bartholomew. U.S. Attorney Machen also

praised the hard work and dedication of Sergeant Vernon Clayton and Officer Bullock of the

Metro Transit Police. Finally, U.S. Attorney Machen recognized the work of paralegal Tameka

Garcia, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Josh Klein and Lara Worm, who investigated and

prosecuted the case.

11-101

“FAKE POT” UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL

“FAKE POT” NOW UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL AND REGULATION
On March 1, 2011, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) exercised its emergency scheduling authority to control five chemicals used to make so-called “fake pot” products. Except as authorized by law, this action makes possessing and selling these chemicals or the products that contain them illegal in the United States. This emergency action was necessary to prevent an imminent threat to public health and safety. The temporary scheduling action will remain in effect for at least one year while the DEA and the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) further study whether these chemicals should be permanently controlled.
The Final Order was published in the Federal Register to alert the public to this action. These chemicals will be controlled for at least 12 months, with the possibility of a six month extension. They are designated as Schedule I substances, the most restrictive category under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule I substances are reserved for those substances with a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use for treatment in the United States and a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision.
Over the past couple of years, smokeable herbal products marketed as being “legal” and as providing a marijuana-like high, have become increasingly popular, particularly among teens and young adults. These products consist of plant material that has been coated with research chemicals that claim to mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and are sold at a variety of retail outlets, in head shops, and over the Internet. These chemicals, however, have not been approved by the FDA for human consumption, and there is no oversight of the manufacturing process. Brands such as “Spice,” “K2,” “Blaze,” and “Red X Dawn” are labeled as herbal incense to mask their intended purpose.
Since 2009, DEA has received an increasing number of reports from poison control centers, hospitals and law enforcement regarding these products. At least 16 states have already taken action to control one or more of these chemicals. The Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to allow the DEA Administrator to place a substance temporarily in schedule I when it is necessary to avoid an imminent threat to the public safety. Emergency room physicians report that individuals that use these types of products experience serious side effects which include: convulsions, anxiety attacks, dangerously elevated heart rates, increased blood pressure, vomiting, and disorientation.

Chief Groomes Invitation

Tommy Wells to Attend PSA 102 Meeting

Update on Homicide at 14th and H Streets NE 11/2009

7D Community Outreach Coordinator annouces: Third Arrest Made in Homicide of George Rawlings:

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced today an arrest has been made in the homicide of George Rawlings.

On Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at approximately 11:45 am members of the First District responded to the 1400 block of H Street, N.E. for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival on the scene, officers discovered an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds in the 1300 block of H Street, NE, lying on the step of a Metro bus. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he later died.

The victim was identified as 21-year-old George Rawlings of the 3900 block of Cole Boulevard, SE.

On Friday, November 13, 2009 a suspect was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder While Armed. On Friday, November 20, 2009 a second suspect was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder While Armed.

On Wednesday, March 2, 2011 arrested was 19-year-old Javoricle Moore of Southeast, DC, pursuant to an arrest warrant charging him with First Degree Murder While Armed.